"Orochimaru's subordinate?!" Naruto nearly jumped up, his eyes wide. "Sasuke... he really went to find Orochimaru?!"
Sakura's face instantly turned pale, her fingers tightly gripping her medical kit. "How could this be... Sasuke..."
Kakashi pressed a hand onto Naruto's shoulder, telling him to calm down as he fixed Sai with a sharp gaze. "Is the intelligence reliable? What are the specifics?"
Sai handed the scroll to Kakashi. "This was sent at the risk of their life by a Root spy planted in Otogakure. Sasuke Uchiha voluntarily contacted Orochimaru's trusted subordinate, Kabuto Yakushi. They agreed to meet at Tenchi Bridge at noon tomorrow. The exact purpose is unknown, but it is presumed to be related to the power Orochimaru promised Sasuke."
The scroll contained only a brief time and location, along with a special sealing formula to ensure the information could not be intercepted or forged.
Kakashi frowned deeply. Things had become troublesome.
With Orochimaru directly involved, the mission's danger level had risen sharply.
"Tenchi Bridge..." Kakashi recalled the map. "It's an abandoned bridge connecting the borders of the Land of Grass and the Land of Rivers. The terrain is open with good visibility, making ambushes difficult—but retreating will be difficult as well."
"Then let's go now!" Naruto said urgently. "We have to stop Sasuke! We can't let Orochimaru trick him!"
"Calm down, Naruto!" Kakashi said sternly. "If this intelligence is true, then they're Orochimaru's subordinates. They're certainly no ordinary opponents. We need a thorough plan."
He looked at Sai. "Sai, your Super Beast Imitating Drawing is best suited for long-range reconnaissance. Tomorrow morning, sneak near Tenchi Bridge first and monitor the situation. Confirm their numbers and strength. The rest of us will lie in wait in the forest by the bridge and act according to the circumstances."
"Understood." Sai nodded.